Abstract
A mixture of endo- and exoxylanases were used to produce a hemicellulose hydrolysate containing 29.6 g L −1 of xylose equivalents based on reducing sugars analysis. Propionibacterium acidipropionici was grown in a 2-l batch reactor in mineral salts medium containing 60% (v/v) hemicellulose hydrolysate, 5 g l −1 proteose peptone, and 2.5 g l −1 yeast extract. Propionic acid production was growth associated. The maximum specific growth rate and maximum specific propionic acid production rate were 0.1 and 0.23 g g −1 h −1, respectively. Growth and acid production were inhibited at propionic acid concentrations greater than 2 g l −1. The final concentration of propionic acid attained was 18 g l −1. This study demonstrates the feasibility of propionic acid production by P. acidipropionici on an enzymatically hydrolyzed, hemicellulosic fraction of steam-exploded Populus tremuloides.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
